View entry
Name: COBHAM, Elijah MC (Rev.)
Nee: brother-in-Law of Archdeacon Walter Percival Low
Birth Date: 1880 West Derby, bapt 24 Aug 1881
Death Date: 19 Sep 1917 killed in action, Tanganyika
Nationality: British
First Date: 1900
Last Date: 1917
Profession: Most of his pastoral work was done in the Plateau area
Area: Plateau area
Book Reference: Gillett, Eldoret, Hut, North, EAMR, CWGC, Foster, EAMR, Gazette
War Service: WW1 with EAMR - A Sqdn. 5/8/14 - 27/4/15 - L/Cpl. 10/8/14; Cpl. 2/9/14; Chaplain
School: Glenalmond and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, MA
General Information:
Eldoret - Married Miss Leslie and Bennet Mousley in Eldoret - 1913 .... (story of wedding from Mrs E. Williams)
North has Rev. J. Cobham, arr. in EA c 1900, Chaplain in Plateau area later
CWGC - The Revd. Elijah Cobham MC, Chaplain 4th Class, Army Chaplain's Dept. attd. KAR killed in action on Wednesday 19th September 1917, aged 37. Son of John and Martha Ann Cobham. of Waterloo, Liverpool, England, and Crowborough, Sussex, England. Glenalmond and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, MA, Vicar of All Saints, Fishponds, Bristol; Colonial and Continental Church Society's Chaplain at Nakuru
Foster - built the first Christian Church in Nakuru; worked as a pastor in the Uasin Gishu Plateau area; married the sister of Archdeacon Low
Web - Militaria - A poignant Great War Family Group of Medals - East Africa MC Group of 4 to Chaplain Elijah Cobham, East African Military [Mounted] Rifles, Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, BWM and Victory, with Memorial Plaque and scroll. Rev Cobham died of wounds on 19 Sept 1917. With War Office typed notice "He met his death in attempting to bring in wounded under heavy fire. He had already rescued two men and was shot whilst bringing in a third. An officer who exercised a great power for good over all ranks, and one who could ill be spared"
Gazette 9/4/1919 - Probate and Administration in respect of the estate of Elijah Cobham, late of Nakuru, who was killed in action at Mihembia, GEA on 19/9/1917. Applied for by Walter Percival Low of Kyambu, attorney of the executors.
Cambridge Univ Alumni pens. at EMMANUEL, Oct. 3, 1900. S. of Mrs Cobham, of 9, Lunham Road, Gipsy Hill, London, S.E. Matric. Michs. 1900; B.A. 1903; M.A. 1907. Ord. deacon, 1906; priest (Bristol) 1907; C. of Fishponds, Bristol, 1906-7. Missionary in All Saints' district, Fishponds, 1907-10. P.C. of Fishponds, 1911-13. Missionary of the Colonial and Continental Church Society, at Nakura, East Africa, 1913. During the Great War, when the Germans invaded East Africa, served as a volunteer in the R.A.M.C.; later Chaplain to the Forces. Died Sept. 19, 1917, of wounds received whilst carrying in the wounded. (Crockford; Univ. War List.)
A fine man, inspiring hope and confidence wherever he went, he lost his life when he was killed in action whilst helping to tend the wounded during the GEA Campaign.